Thermostatic generator



0f- 16, 1934 w. c. LINDEMANN Er A1. `1,977,192

THERMOSTATIC GENERATOR Filed Feb. 20, 1931 'vENToRs Patented Get. 16, 1934 fr orties THERMOSTATIC GENERATOR Walter C.-Lindemann, Carl J. Weis, and Adolph T. Schmidt', Milwaukee,"Wis., assignors to A. J. Lindemann & Hoverson Company, Milwaukee, Wis., aeorporation of Wisconsin Application February-2051931, Serial No. 517,240

12 Claims.

Thel present improvements relates, ingeneral, to hydrocarbon stoves and moreparticularly to burners and generators therefor and to improve means for automatically'controlling the'fuel-supplv-leading thereto.

AA primary object, among others, is'to provide an automatic control means for the fuel supplied `to a'vapor-generator and burner, and one which fais' foolproof-ineperation and embodies features "'10 of -safety and/reliability.

i- A furthertobject is to provide an improved generator construction combining into a compact structure `ani expansible and a Inon-expansible member which cooperate `'in controlling the operation of valve- Imeans for regulating the fuel supp1y. lAnother object "of 'thefimprovements is to 1 r provide a` device of- "the foregoing typev wherein vapor-ization of the-fuelis facilitated.

4 i `A noveltype'of-adjustablelfuelinletis also pro- 2O vided and -constitutes: a iurtherobjectbfthe imamount of air enters the pipe 'l at the pointwhere it receives the vapor `from the Eg'enerator,fiso :that 1 afsuita'ble vnii-Xture is conveyed/tothe `burner-'for consumption. T-It is 'understoodfthat `the-burner 440i 5-'maybe one ofa pluralityoi-'serviceiburnerstall V`of--which r mayf f-receve f vaporized fuel' from the @generatori 6,101' each'such bur-nerrmay havelan individual generatori for providing the" fuel i supvply.

'thegeneratorcasting Slis suitably yhor-'ed and threadd'to-accommodate parts'offthe valve strucfture. A'liquidfuel supplylpipe (notrshown) .is 1= lattachedfto nipple 9 ywhich has a=conduit`10 lead- 550' -ingihto a'bore lof thercasting where it communicates-with anfannular Y channel 11 provided beeOrnmulnicates'withy a peripheral groove 141 pro- As morefclearlydseen'upon reference to'Fig. 2,

this stern 15 has screw threaded engagement with the casting 3 and has a centrally disposed channel 16 which `comnninicates with groove -lithrou'gh radial-port l1'7. l

The exposed end of channel '16 for-ms a'valveio seat 18 with which the valve plug 19Ycoope-rates. A-longitudinal channel 20in1said plug affords colnnninication between the valve seatcharnber 21 and theinterior -of the generator. Accordingly a liquid fuel inlet tothe generator isthusi"65 aiforded when valve 19 is unseated,ffwhile' communication to the lgenerator `is Leut-off-l When-'said Valve is closed.

Suitable packing `means 22 are -providedflat either end of collar l12- and provide an'efective seal-between the oollargstem'd and'casting 8. A ring'23 and bushing 24 surround-stem 15iand may besuitably adjusted for'tighteningthe `packing 22, during which operation the collar 12'm`ay vvbe shiftedto and from itslillustratedltposition.E

Liliewise'ithe stem 15 maywbe adjusted:.byreas`on ofits screw threaded mounting.n It is notable that inthe assembly ofl thesel'par-ts orin Vthe adjustment thereof, communicationthrough collar 12 and stem 15 is afforded-regardless ofthe positionfgo in which these elements-come-torest after v.assembly or adjustment isaccomplished.

"The tubularigenerator 6is communicably' attached'to the casting 8, pr'ojectstherefrom' over the burner 5, and terminates inthe-,usual bushing '95 25 and outlet member 26. "A valve stem` 27,' having valve 28, has screw threaded engagement with bushing 25,.V whereby discharge throughtheout- -let may be controlled by advancing orretracting the valve vand stem. Theinnerendo'f bushing-'25 r90 is counter `bored and screw threadedlfor receiving thev threaded end of a valve actuating member 30. In the present embodiment this member is 'in the form of a tubular sleeve surrounding stem 27 and disposed between it and the generator tube.

l As illustrated, the tubular 'members 61 'and T302 are `spaced for providing an annular channel' Lori passageway'31 which extends from the' junctureof the generaton'sle'eve and bushing 25-'tothe'i`i`1`let endof the generator.' -Ports V32 in sleeve@ 'afford 100 communication between channel 311 'andthe space l.'56 :between stem 27 and the sleeve 30, 'which'n lturnlcommunicates with the outlet* of 'the'ffgenverator through-groove 33 in 'stem`2'l.

`- Whilethegenerator 6 and sleeve'- SO-are secured-1105 g 'Pto eachother at one end by meansof bushingfz 'tween-'adjustable collar `12 and thefwall of the i Ebore. A `port 13,1extendingthrough the collar,y

the other end `of the sleeve is free and has noconnec'tion with the generator or casing 8. Asiillustr-ated," "the-free end of the sleeve isha-red at-`35 ffvidedori the adjustable lstem'! 15. As illustrated,`

and engagesthevalveplugl'g `In'ithis manner 'no the flared end assists in maintaining the sleeve 30 in spaced relation to the generator, so that annular channel 31 will have free communication with the channel 20 in valve plug 19.

The generator 6 and sleeve 30 are made of metals which have different coefficients of expansion, that is, the expansion of the generator 6 is greater than that of the tube or sleeve 30. For example, the tube 6 may be made of steel and tube 30 may be made of invar metal, or if desired, the outer tube may be of brass and the inner tube of steel. Any other metals may be employed for the tubes, so long as the diiference in expansion is sufficient to permit opening of valve plug 19, as hereinafter described.

When the generator is ready for operation, gasoline or other fluid fuel under pressure obtains in passage 10 and the communicating channels up to valve seat 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the generator is cold, so that the tube 6 is contracted, and tube 3G is in its normal position engaging valve 19 and holding it tightly against seat 18, so that no fuel can pass to the generator. The valve 28 may now be retracted and the generator preheated by any suitable priming means. This preliminary heating causes generator tube 6 to expand and thereby withdraw the substantially non-expansible tube 30, so that its flared end 35 is not exerting a closing force on valve plug 19. K

Since this valve is loosely mounted, the pressure of the fuel in channel 16 forces the valve open and the liquid fuel passes through channel 20 in the valve and flows into annular channel 31 between tubes 6 and 30. While some of the fuel ,may flow into the space 36 between the stem 27 and tube 30, the greater portion thereof will enter channel 31 which is larger than the aforementioned space. A thin film of fuel is thus provided in the annular channels so that vaporisation thereof is facilitated by the heat applied to the generator. The vaporized fuel then passes through ports 32 into the space 36, whence it passes through groove 33 in valve stem 27 and thence through the outlet 26 to the conduit 7 and on to burner 5 which may now be ignited. The heat of the main burner now maintains the generator in operation, with tube 6 expanded and valve 19 open. So long as the burner is thus operating, the flow of fuel and the vaporization thereof will continue.

In the event that burner 5 is inadvertently extinguished, the generator 6 cools and contracts, carrying tube 30 back with it, while the flared end 35 of the latter forces valve 19 home to itsV seat, thereby automatically shutting off the supply of fuel to the generator. In this cool condition of the parts, the valve is held tightly closed by the engagement of tube 30 therewith, so that no fuel can escape, regardless of the position of Valve 28. Y

It is notable that the thin film of fuel obtaining between stem 27 and tube 30 is likewise readily vaporized and exudes through the outlet along with the major portion of the vaporized fuel.

The simplicity of the improvements cannot be over emphasized. In employing the tubular member 30 for controlling the inlet valve, accurate alignment of parts is assured and all danger of warpage due to the use of a rod is eliminated. Since tube 30 has a free or floating end, it has freedom of operation and cannot bind, stick, or be hampered in its movement, as might be the case were it mounted for sliding movement in a bushing of some sort. Furthermore, the fact that tube 30 is independent of and not connected to valve 19, provides more positive operation and prevents an excess of heat being communicated to the valve, whereby the latter is more readily movable.

The novel inlet construction, including adjustable elements 12 and 15, is advantageous due to its simplicity and adjustability. As aforementioned, these parts may be assembled and adjusted at the factory and will insure communication with passage 10, regardless of their position within a given range. The elements of the present improvements are so well aligned, that the structure may operate indefinitely and the generator structure removed and replaced many times without the necessity of altering or adjusting stem 15;' This capability of insuring proper adjustment at the time of assembly at the factory, is of marked importance.

Various modifications of the present improvements may occur to those skilled in the art and may be made Without departing from the scope and purview of the invention.

We claim:

1. The combination with a vapor burner, of a vapor generator comprising nested tubes of different coeflicient of expansion, a valve controlling discharge of fuel from said tubes, valve actuating means therefor disposed within said tubes, a valve controlling admission of fuel to said tubes, one of said tubes engaging said last named valve for influencing its movements in response to thermal conditions of said generator.

2. The combination with a vapor burner, of a vapor generator comprising inner and outer tubes connected at one end for providing an annular chamber therebetween, a valve controlling discharge of fuel from said chamber, valve actuating means therefor disposed within said tubes, a fuel inlet for said chamber, a loosely mounted valve controlling same, said inner tube engaging said.115 last named valve and being of less coefficient of expansion than said outer tube whereby movement of the latter in response to thermal conditions inuences operation of said last named valve.

3. A vapor generator comprising a tubular member having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, Valves controlling said inlet and outlet, a manually operated rod extending along the interior of said member for actuating said outlet valve, means operatively associated with said member for holding said inlet valve closed, said means being movablerelative to said inlet valve upon expansion of said tubular member, said inlet valve being free to be opened by the fuel pressure in said 130 inlet.

4. A vapor generator comprising a thermally responsive tubular member having a fuelfinlet and outlet, a valve and valve actuating means for said outlet extending throughout said member, a sleeve 135 within and operatively connected with said member for movement therewith, a freely slidable valve controlling said inlet, said sleeve engaging said valve for closing same, said valve being freely slidable upon withdrawal of said sleeve.

5. A vapor generator comprising a thermally responsive tubular member having a fuel inlet and outlet, a valve and valve actuating means for said outlet extending throughout said member, a sleeve operatively associated with said generator for 145 movement therewith and disposed within same, a valve controlling said inlet, said valve and sleeve being mounted independently of each other but cooperatively positioned whereby movement of the sleeve in one direction ,closes said valve and 150 movement in an opposite direction imparts no movement to said valve.

6. A vapor generator comprising a thermally responsive tubular member, a manually operated valve for controlling the ow of fuel from said member, a valve rod for said valve disposed within said member, a loosely mounted valve controlling the flow of fuel to said member, a sleeve surroundingr said rod and fixed to said member and engageable with said loosely mounted valve for closing same upon contraction of said member.

7. A vapor generator comprising a thermally responsive tubular member, a substantially nonexpansible member fixed thereto, a fuel inlet for said tubular member, a fuel outlet for said member, valve means extending throughout said member for controlling said outlet, and a valve in the path of travel of said non-expansible member but detached from said members, said valve being moved in closing direction by said non-expansible member and being moved in opening direction by means other than said non-expansible member.

8. A vapor generator comprising a thermostatic tube having an inlet for fuel under pressur-e, an outlet for said tube, a valve for said outlet, a valve stem within said tube, a freely movable valve disposed across said inlet adapted to be opened by the fuel pressure, a member independent of but normally engaging said last named valve for resisting said opening movement, said member being operatively connected with said tube, whereby upon expansion of the latter said member is retracted from said last named valve so that the valve is free to be moved independently of said member.

9. A vapor generator comprisng a thermostatic tube having an inlet for fuel under pressure, an outlet for said fuel, a valve and valve stem for said outlet, a freely movable valve disposed across said inlet adapted to be opened by the fuel pressure, a sleeve surrounding said valve stem responsive to movements of said tube normally engaging said valve for resisting said opening movement, said valve being mounted independently of said sleeve, the expansion of said tube causing retraction of said sleeve whereby the valve is free to open under fuel pressure and the contraction of said tube causes movement of said sleeve for closing said valve.

l0. A vapor generator comprising a thermostatic tube having an inlet and an outlet, a valve stem disposed in said tube, a sleeve between said tube and stem and connected to the former, a loosely mounted valve controlling said inlet and adapted to be opened by the fuel pressure therein, said sleeve normally holding said valve closed but being retractable therefrom upon expansion of said tube.

1l. A vapor generator comprising a thermostatic tube having an inlet and an outlet, a valve and valve rod disposed Within said tube for controlling said outlet, a tubular member between said rod and tube and having one end thereof connected to said tube, the other end of said tubular member projecting toward said inlet, a valve for said inlet engageable by said tubular member for closing same, said tubular member being movable to and from said valve in response to expansion and contraction of said tube.

l2. A vapor generator comprising nested tubular members of different coefficients of expansion having'a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, a valve and` valve rod disposed Within said tubular members for controlling said outlet, a second valve controlling admission of fuel to said tubular members, one of said tubular members engaging said second valve for influencing its movements in response to thermal conditions of said generator.

WALTER C. LINDEMANN. CARL J. WEIS. ADOLPH T. SCHMIDT. 

